CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



ficial varieties, the best means for combating 

 them, and also learned the life histories of many. 

 Some took pride in learning the scientific names. 

 One of the first remarks in the garden this year 

 was, " There is Clisiocampa americana on your 

 dress." 



They learned thirty different birds by color, 

 song, flight, food habits*, and economic relations 

 in keeping insects in check. (A song-sparrow 

 nested this year in a clump of grasses near the 

 garden where the children were passing con- 

 stantly.) 



One day, one of the gardeners presented 

 himself with a large squash-blossom in each 

 hand, and wanted to know what was the matter 

 with his squash-vine, as so few of the blossoms 

 had squashes on them. All of the gardeners 

 were called from their work to hear thfe lesson 

 on cross-pollination. The squash-blossom was 

 taken to illustrate insect-pollinated flowers, 

 and was compared with the corn, which is 

 wind-pollinated. They learned also the lesson 

 that all form, texture and arrangement of 

 leaves is for the purpose of securing and 

 assimilating food for the perfection of the 

 individual, and that the beautiful colors and 

 markings and marvelous forms of flowers are 

 for the purpose of attracting insects, thus pro- 

 curing cross-pollination which results in strong, 



62 



